A 7‐month‐old, crossbreed dog presented for collapsing episodes and acute non‐ambulatory tetraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography revealed absence of the dorsal arch of the first cervical vertebrae and displacement of the second cervical vertebrae, with severe spinal cord compression. Surgical spinal stabilisation was performed under general anaesthesia. Postoperatively, attempts to wean the animal from mechanical ventilation were unsuccessful. Despite the dog's efforts to breathe spontaneously, severe hypercapnia (EtCO2 11.4 kPa [85.5 mmHg]) developed. Due to a lack of appropriate resources, pharmacological support of ventilation was attempted, using doxapram (2 mg/kg intravenously), followed by a variable‐rate infusion (5–30 µg/kg/min) maintained for 48 hours. The dog was discharged 48 hours after doxapram discontinuation.